Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Hear God's words then put them into practice

Ezekiel 33:21-33
In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has fallen!” Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the Lord was on me, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent. 
You rely on your sword, you do detestable things, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Should you then possess the land?
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
News of Jerusalem's fall
The news did not take Ezekiel by surprise. God had already given him back his speech, as promised, by the time the messenger arrived. Some texts have 'eleventh year' for 'twelfth' in verse 21, in which case the news takes the more likely time of six months to reach them. Those left behind in Judah, far from repenting, were busy annexing other people's property. And in Babylonia the exiles who seemed to lap up Ezekiel's words came simply for entertainment. They neither believed them nor acted on them: a depressing state of affairs after all that had happened!
Why?
God's word is faithful and righteousness. Ezekiel's mouth opened before the man came from the city.
Should you then possess the land even they are the children of Abraham, for they did detestable thing so God let them exile from the land they possessed.
Be careful, do not speak love but hears are greedy for unjust gain. Hear the word of the Lord in church, then put them into practice.
How?
Be aware the inspire from the Holy Spirit and follow it, for God is Holy and this word endure forever! Praise the name of the Lord!


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